Building component structure, or building components

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to flat and/or elongated building components ( 1, 2 ), preferably wooden, and a structure connecting these components ( 1, 2 ) in accordance with the groove and tongue principle. Two legs ( 3, 4 ) forming a groove ( 5 ) branch off from a front face of one of the components ( 1 ), and a tongue ( 6 ) branching off from a front face of the other component ( 2 ) can be inserted into the groove ( 5 ). Locking elements ( 7, 8 ) hold the components ( 1, 2 ) in an assembled position. In accordance with the invention, the locking elements are configured as triangular projections ( 7 ) and cavities ( 8 ) in facing or adjacent surfaces of the groove and/or tongue.

The invention relates, on the one hand, to an arrangement of buildingcomponents, and on the other hand to the building components themselves,to an arrangement of panel-shaped or strip-shaped building componentsmade of wood, wood material or a wood-based material.

Panel-shaped building components include, for example, building panels,floor panels, cladding panels, cladding strips, or similar, used inparticular for covering the walls, ceilings or floors of all types ofbuildings. Such components may consist of single of multi-ply panels orstrips of wood or wood-based material that may be laminated on one orboth outer surfaces. The lamination may take the form of plastic sheets,wood or plastic veneers, etc. In particular, the invention is concernedwith floor panels made of wood and having relatively hard surfacesconsisting of laminated plastic layers.

Arrangements of such components, or such components themselves,discussed above are known prior art.

The invention relates in particular to the special manner of connectingsuch structural elements in order to secure the latter in an optimalposition relative to each other in the connected state, with theassistance of looking elements, while at the same time being able todisconnect the components if required.

In addition to this specific goal of the invention, the purpose of thefeatures of the invention is to ensure that the looking elements to beproduced are as simple and economical as possible in design and do notrequire the use of additional aids, so that the components can be fittedor joined together quickly and reliably in a manner that is non-damagingto the materials involved.

According to the invention, in the case of building components or anarrangement to connect building components, an arrangement ofpanel-shaped or strip-shaped building components (1, 2) made of wood,wood material or a wood-based material, possibly having, for example,plastic laminated layers on the top and/or bottom surfaces, e.g.building panels, floor panels, cladding panels, or cladding strips, andthe like, or such components, said components (1, 2) having possibly aflat bottom surface (15) for placing on a flat substrate, saidcomponents (1, 2) being connectable with each other by thetongue-and-groove principle and having two in particular equally longlegs (3, 4) projecting from at least one of the end faces of the onecomponent (1) and forming between from a groove (5), into which groove(15) is insertable a tongue (6) projecting from one of the end faces ofthe respective other component (2), said components having lockingelements matched to each other in the form of a recess or depression (8)or in the form of a projection (7) formed on at least one side of thegroove (5) and on at least one side of the tongue (6), and preferablyover the entire length of the groove (5) and the tongue (6), in order tohold joined components (1, 2) in the joined position, characterized inthat,

in particular in order to achieve a firm but detachable connectionbetween the components (1, 2) the groove (B) is directly formed in, andin particular is cut or milled in, component (1),

the tongue (6) is of integral one-piece construction with the component(2), from which is in particular machined or milled,

the width (B) of the groove (5) increases from the inside to the outside

the thickness (D) of the tongue (6) decreases in the direction towardsits free end

the projection (7) on the tongue (B) possesses a longer front surface(18, 30) forming an angle (α) with the top surface (13) of thecomponents (1, 2) said projection (7) also possesses a shorter rearsurface (17) merging with this aforementioned front surface via a sharpbend and forming an angle (β) with the top surface (13) of components(1, 2) that is larger than the angle (α), the recess (8) in the groove(5) possesses a contact surface (18′) close to the base of the groove,which surface, in the locked position, is in at least partial contactwith the long front surface (18, 30), and said recess also possesses ashorter contact surface (17′) located away from the base of the groove,which surface, in the locked position, is in contact with the shorterrear surface (17) of the projection (7).

and at least one of the two, and preferably both, legs (3, 4) formingthe groove can be flexibly bent outwards relative to the respectiveother leg of the groove, so that the tongue (6) is clamped in theengaged position by the legs (3, 4) of the groove, or it may be insertedinto or withdrawn from the groove (5) by elastically flexing the legs(3, 4) of the groove.

It should be mentioned that the tongue is of solid one-piececonstruction with the components from which it is shaped.

The width of the groove, which increases from the inside to the outside,or the thickness of the tongue, which decreases in the direction towardsits free end, are matched to each other so that, when the components arejoined together, the surfaces of the groove and of the tongue are infull contact with one another. As a result, the components are held in adefined position in relation to each other.

The detachability of the connection is substantially enhanced by thefact that the surface of the projection formed on the tongue, saidsurface being close to the component, and the surface of the recessformed on the groove, said surface being close to the opening of thegroove, run obliquely or slantingly in the direction of the component orthe groove opening, so that the tongue can be withdrawn from the groove.The introduction and withdrawal of the tongue is possible because atleast one of the legs of the groove is elastically widenable in respectto the other leg, or can be elastically moved away from the other leg;in particular, the two legs of the groove are made of a material strongenough to permit them to bend elastically outwards, thus permitting thetongue to be inserted into the groove. In the process, the projection,of which at least one is provided on the tongue, can move past the inneredges at the opening of the groove by sliding along these inner edges,thereby forcing the legs of the groove apart.

The locking elements provided to ensure the positionally fixedconnection of the components, said locking elements being formed bymutually matched projections and recesses, are formed on the groove andon the tongue. These locking elements may be provided at intervals alongthe groove and tongue, but better engagement is achieved and manufactureis simplified if these locking elements extend over the entire length ofthe grooves and tongues provided.

In one particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention,appropriate projections are formed on both sides of the tongue andappropriate recesses are formed on both sides of the groove, becausethis achieves a double locking engagement and thus a firm connectionbetween the components.

The components may be of any desired width. Components of the same widthor components of different width may be joined with one another inorder, for example, to achieve a certain floor configuration.

As regards the connecting together or the disconnection of thecomponents, it is advantageous to proceed according to the features setforth such that an arrangement as disclosed previously is characterizedin that the angle (α) formed between the front surface (10) and the topsurface (13) of the components (1, 2) is greater than the angle (γ)formed between the area of the groove surface (9) close to the base ofthe groove and the top surface (13) of the components (1, 2) (FIG. 1),and is characterized in that when the projection (7) is formed on onlyone side of the tongue (6) and the recess (8) is formed only on the sideof the groove (5) facing this side, the surfaces of the tongue (6) andof the groove (5) which are not provided with a projection or recess arein full contact with one another and form the same angle (γ) with thetop surface (13) of the components (1, 2).

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that,

the tongue surfaces (10) close to the end of the tongue possess the sameangle of inclination (γ) relative to the top surface (13) of thecomponents (1, 2) as the groove surfaces (9) in the areas close to thebase of the groove, against which areas the tongue surfaces (10) closeto the end of the tongue are in contact when the components (1, 2) arefitted together,

along at least one groove surface (9), preferably the groove surface (9)close to the top surface of the components, and in particular in bothgroove surfaces (8), there is formed, as a locking element, a recess ordepression (8) having a triangular shape in the cross sectionperpendicular to the direction in which the components (1, 2) are fittedtogether,

along at least one tongue surface (10), preferably on the tongue surface(10) close to the top surface of the components, and in particular onboth tongue surfaces (10), there is formed a projection (7) having atriangular shape in the cross section perpendicular to the direction inwhich the components (1, 2), the projection (7) and the recess (8) arein full contact with each other, without any play, along their contours(FIG. 2).

This cross section shape of a tongue, having at least one projectionformed thereon and having at least one corresponding recess formed inthe groove, permits the surfaces of the tongue, or of the projectionprovided on the tongue, to slide easily on the surfaces of the groove,or on the surfaces of the groove that directly adjoin the opening of thegroove, when the tongue is introduced into the groove.

The features characterized in that

when the components (1, 2) are in the locked position, substantially theentire area of the tongue surface (10) located ahead of the projection(7) in the direction of the front end of the tongue is in contact withthe groove surface (9) result in firm locking engagement of the twocomponents to be joined.

For the purpose of introducing the tongue of the one component into thegroove of the other component, and also for the purpose of detachingsaid tongue, it is particularly advantageous to proceed according to thefeature characterized in that the longest triangle side of the recess(8) is located along or in the plane of the groove surface (9), thetriangle side (17′) closer to the opening of the groove being shorterand inclined at a larger angle (β) relative to the top surface (13) thanthe triangle side (18′) that is located closer to the base (11) of thegroove and is inclined at an angle (α) relative to the top surface (13),characterized in that the longest triangle side of the projection (7) islocated along or in the plane of the tongue surface (10), the triangleside (17) located away from the free end of the tongue being shorter andinclined at a larger angle (β) relative to the top surface (13) than thetriangle side (18) that is located close to the free end of the tongueand is inclined at an angle (α) relative to the top surface (13), andfurther characterized in that the projection (7) formed on the tongue(6) has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the triangular shape ofthe recess (8). When this method is employed, the resistance encounteredwhen detaching or withdrawing the tongue from the groove is higher thanthe resistance encountered when introducing the tongue into the groove;however, the tongue is firmly engaged in the groove, yet at the sametime this locking engagement can easily be reversed.

It is not necessary to form an elastically yielding tongue or tonguesections because the legs of the groove possess sufficient elasticity tobe able to open up appropriately when the tongue is introduced.

It is advantageous if the features characterized in that the triangularprojection (7) on the tongue (6) is located between surface areas of thetongue (6) having the same angle of inclination (γ) relative to the topsurface (13) of the components (1, 2) are provided, because these resultin a defined design of the tongue and groove that is easy to manufactureand that permits good contact between the tongue and the groove.

The features characterized in that, between the opening of the grooveand the start of the shorter triangle side (17′) of the recess (8), thesurface area (25′) of the groove surface (9) forms an angle with the topsurfaces (13) of the components (1, 2) that corresponds to the angle ofinclination (α) of the longer triangle side (18′), so that this surfacearea (25′) of the groove (8) forms the sliding surface for the longertriangle side (18) of the projection (7) provided on the tongue (6)simplify the introduction of the tongue into the groove.

The features characterized in that the area of the tongue surface (10)close to the free end of the tongue, and also the area of the tonguesurface (10) close to the end face of the components (2), merge into thelonger (18) and the shorter (17) triangle sides of the projection (7),in each case via a bend (19, 20), define exactly the position of thetongue in the groove, because the projection comes to rest exactly inthe recess and thus the projection and the recess, or the surfaces ofthe tongue and the surfaces of the groove, abut exactly and infull-surface contact with each other.

When the cross section of the triangular projection, or of theprojection of the tongue engaged in the recess in the groove, isdesigned such that the triangle side (18) close to the bottom of thegroove (FIG. 2), or the section (30) of the tongue surface (10) receivedby the recess (8) (FIG. 1), is about four to eight times, preferablyfive to seven times, as long as the triangle side (17) located away fromthe base of the groove (FIG. 2) or the shorter rear surface (17) (FIG.1), and also characterized in that the angle between the two trianglesides (17, 18), or between the section (30) of the tongue surface (10)and the shorter rear surface (17), is 100 to 140°, and in particular 110to 130°. This simplifies the introduction of the tongue into the grooveor offers the tongue firm engagement in the groove, yet at the same timepermits withdrawal of the tongue from the groove without damaging thematerial.

The invention is further characterized in that the longer triangle side(18, 18′) and the shorter triangle side (17, 17′) of the projection (7)or of the recess (8) merge into the front or rear area of the groovesurface (9) and of the tongue surface (10), via a bend (19, 20).

The features characterized in that the end face of the leg (4) of thegroove in the one component (1), said leg being located close to the topsurface of the component and possessing possibly a rounded or chamferedinner surface (29), is in contact with the end face area of the othercomponent (2), said and face area being located close to the top surfaceof the component, and/or characterized in that the end face of the leg(3) of the groove of the one component (1), said leg being located closeto the bottom surface of the said component, is located at a distancefrom the end face area of the other component (2), said end face areabeing located close to the bottom of the said component are advantageousfor avoiding tilting when introducing the tongue into the groove.Furthermore, the features of this claim help to ensure that the end-facesurfaces of the components to be joined by the engagement of theprojections of the tongue in the recess of the groove are in closecontact with one another or are brought close together with one anotherso that no gaps are formed.

It has been found in practice that the features characterized in thatthe groove (5) and the tongue (6) are formed in the middle section ofthe respective and faces of the components (1, 2) or symmetrically inrelation to a horizontal mid-plane of the components (1, 2), areadvantageous, because the manufacture of the groove and tongue issimplified, or the force is transmitted without damaging the material.

When the features characterized in that the arrangement comprisescomponents (1) bearing on one of their end faces a groove (5) and on therespective other and face a tongue (8), and also comprising components(1) bearing on both opposite end faces or on all end faces grooves (5)or tongues (6) respectively, and/or characterized in that the components(1, 2) are of symmetrical or identical configuration in relation to aplane running perpendicular to their surface and through thelongitudinal and/or transverse id-axis, or characterized in that thecomponents (1, 2) are of different widths, and the components (1)bearing grooves (5) at their opposite and faces are possiblypanel-shaped or wide in dimension, and the components (2) bearingtongues (6) are of narrow, strip-shaped or elongate configuration, areadopted, the components are easy to install and at the same time areoptically attractive. In this way, relatively wide, panel shapedcomponents, not necessary elongate but also, for example, rectangular orsquare in configuration, are held together by relatively narrow,strip-shaped components, thereby not only resulting in a pleasingpattern, but also simplifying the installation technique.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are apparent from thefollowing description, the drawings and the patent claims.

In the following, the invention is described in more detail on the basisof the drawing.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show in diagrammatic form a sectional view of componentsjoined in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 3 shows in diagrammatic form components joined together with oneanother.

FIG. 1 shows two components 1, 2 that are to be joined to one another.In the one component 1 there is formed a groove 5 into which isinsertable a tongue 6 projecting from the other component 2, the endfaces of the components 1, 2 abut in the area close to the top surfaceof said components, while in the area of the bottom surface of the saidcomponents a gap 16 is formed.

The components 1, 2, which consist in particular of wood or plastic, maybe provided with laminated layers 23, 24 to provide appropriate surfacevalues or an attractive appearance.

Locking elements 7, 8 adapted to one another are provided on the tongue6 or the tongue surfaces 10 and in the groove 5 or in the groovesurfaces or the lateral surfaces 9 of the groove 5. These lockingelements are formed by projections 7 and recesses 8 that interact withor are engageable in one another. The cross-sectional shapes of therecesses 8 and of the associated projections 7 correspond to each otherso that the locking elements engage fully one within the other.

When the components 1, 2 are assembled, the locking elements 7, 8 areengaged with each other. The locking elements 7, 8 are in particularformed over the entire length of the longitudinal and/or narrow sides ofthe components 1, 2.

In FIG. 1, a projection 7 is formed on a tongue surface 10, and thisprojection is received by a recess 8 in the groove surface 9 abuttingthis tongue surface 10. When the tongue 6 is introduced into the groove5, both legs 3, 4 of the groove 5, are forced elastically apart; whenthe tongue 6 is withdrawn from the groove 5 the legs 3, 4 of the grooveare also elastically spread apart.

In the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 1, a projection 7 isformed on only one side of the tongue 6. The projection 7 is formed insuch a manner that the tongue surface 10 runs in a straight line fromthe free front end of the tongue 6 until it bends sharply at thethickest point of the tongue and merges into a short rear surface 17,which is turn merges into a surface 31 leading to component 2. Only apartial area 30 of the tongue surface 10 is received by the recess 8 inthe groove surface 9; however, in the recess, this partial area of thetongue surface is in full contact with the surface 18′; the rear,shorter surface 17 is also in full contact with the surface 17′ of therecess 8, said surface being located close to the opening at the groove.

The groove surface 10, or a partial area 30 thereof, is inclined at anangle α to the top surface 13 of the two components 1, 2; the shorterrear surface 17 is inclined at an angle β to the top surface 13 of thetwo components 1, 2. The same applies to the two surfaces 17′ and 18′ ofthe recess 8 in the leg 3 of the groove. The area of the groove surface9 located outside the recess 8 of the leg 3 of the groove, or close tothe base of the groove, is inclined at an angle γ to the top surface 13of the two components. The surface 10 of tongue 6 that carries noprojection and is in full contact with the facing groove surface 9 isinclined at the same angle γ.

In order to form a defined, mutual position of the locked components 1,2 it may be advantageous if, relative to the functional surface or topsurface 13, the angle α of the long side 18 of the triangular projection7 on the tongue 6 corresponds to the angle or the inclination, inparticular of the front area, of the tongue surface 10, which front arearuns at a distance from the groove surface 9. Over most of its length,the tongue surface 10 which has no locking elements is in contact withthe inner surface 9 of the groove and, seen from the base 11 of thegroove, both surfaces approach the top or functional surface 13 of bothcomponents 1, 2 at an angle γ.

In practice, it is advantageous if the recess or the groove are providedin the groove and tongue surfaces close to the top surface of thecomponents. It is particularly advantageous if corresponding lockingelements are provided in both tongue surfaces and in both groovesurfaces.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, when the tongue 6 is inserted into thegroove, the legs 3, 4 of the groove are moved apart from each other. Inparticular, the surface 25′ close to the opening of the groove, and thetongue surface 10, and in particular the area 30 thereof, slide overeach other so that the legs 3, 4 of the groove are spread apart withoutbeing damaged. When the tongue 6 is withdrawn from the groove 5, thespreading of the legs 3, 4 of the groove is achieved by the surfaces 17and 17′ sliding over each other.

FIG. 2 depicts a particularly advantageous embodiment of the inventionin which the groove 5 and the tongue 6 are advantageously symmetricallyformed in relation to a mid-plane M′ running through the components 1,2, perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

The projection 7 or the recess 8 according to FIG. 2 is triangular incross section, the triangle sides 17, 17′ closer to the opening of thegroove being shorter and inclined at a greater angle than triangle sides18, 18′ located closer to the bottom 11 of the groove. When the tongue 6is introduced into the groove 5, the longer side 18 of the projection 7slides on the inner edge or on a chamfered section 25′ formed in thisarea of the leg 3 of the groove until the projection 7 has passed bythis inner edge surface 25′ and is received by the recess 8.

In the advantageous embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, provision is made forin particular symmetrically arranged projections 7 or recesses 8 to beformed on both opposing tongue surfaces 10, and for recesses andprojections matched to these projections 7 or recesses 8 to be providedon both contacting groove surfaces 9, or for the groove 5 and the tongue6 to be of dovetail configuration and to be matched to one another. Thisembodiment permits double locking of the two components 1, 2, such alocking arrangement being also easily detachable by moving or pullingthe two components 1, 2 apart from each other in the widened plane whichthey create.

In this embodiment, the longer triangle side 18, or the surface of theprojection 7 formed by this side, merges into the front area of thetongue surface 10, after changing direction at 19; the area of thegroove surface 9 close to the base of the groove and this front area ofthe tongue surface 10, like the projection 7 and the recess 8, are infull contact with each other; in this way a very exact connection of thecomponents 1, 2 can be achieved and at the same time it is guaranteedthat the end faces of the components 1, 2 are brought into contact withor are brought up close against each other under the exertion ofpressure, so that no gap is formed between the components 1, 2 at thefunctional or top surface 13, or so that the components 1, 2 do not moveapart while they are in use.

The area of the groove surfaces 9 close to the base of the groove andthe area of the tongue surfaces 10 close to the free end of the tongue 6possess the same angle of inclination γ. The angle α enclosed by thesurfaces 18 of the projection, or the surface 18′ of the recess, and thetop surface 13 of the components 1, 2, is greater than the angle γ. Thearea of the inner edge surface 25′, located close to the opening of thegroove, is also inclined at this angle α to the top surface 13 of thetwo components 1, 2.

The angle β at which the shorter triangle sides 17, 17′ are inclined isgreater than the angle α and advantageously is between 25° and 65° inrelation to the top surface 13 of the components 1, 2.

For attaching and detaching the components, it is advantageous if thetriangle sides 18, 18′ close to the base of the groove are about four toeight times, preferably five to seven times, as long as the trianglesides 17, 17′ located away from the base of the groove, and if the angleenclosed by the two triangle sides 17, 18 or 17′, 18′ is between 100 and140° and in particular between 110 and 130°.

In order to simplify insertion, it is advantageous if the inside endedges of the tongue 6 are provided with chamfered sections 12 and/or ifthe inside end edge of the leg 4 of the groove, which leg has noengagement or locking elements, is provided with a chamfered section 29.

By means of the joining method according to the invention, it ispossible, and it is intended, that the bottom surfaces 15 of thecomponents 1, 2 to be joined with one another lie in one plane.

In principle, several projections and/or recesses may be formed on thesurface of a tongue or groove.

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the invention in which each of thecomponents 1, 2 is provided at its two opposite end faces or on all fourend faces with grooves 5 or with tongues 6. The components 1, 2 are thussymmetrically configured relative to their diagrammatically indicatedmid-plane M.

The groove 5 or tongues 6 are formed in the same way as was described inconnection with FIGS. 1 and 2 or in the preceding description. As can beseen from FIG. 3, the projections 7 and recesses 8 that are inengagement with each other are matched to each other and their crosssectional shape corresponds to that of the projections 7 and recesses 8described in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is, however, in principle possible tochoose other similar cross sectional shapes for the locking elements 7,8, or to choose for the groove and tongue surfaces angles of inclinationrelative to the surface 13 of the components 1, 2 that are differentfrom those shown. The elasticity of the legs 3, 4 is important in orderto guarantee the engagement of the locking elements 7, 8.

The relatively narrow or strip-shaped component 2 depicted in FIG. 3possesses two tongues 6 each having a dovetail profile; the relativelybroad components 1 depicted in FIG. 3 possess dovetail-shaped grooves 5at their opposite end faces, in particular at all four end faces.

The components 1 may also be square in shape, and in combination withthe strip-shaped components 2 they produce an optically pleasingpattern.

The strip-shaped components 2 are easy to handle or to cut to length;the components 1 may possess grooves 5 around their periphery at the endfaces so that all-round connection of the components 1 with thestrip-shaped components 2 is possible.

In principle, it is also possible for in each case grooves 5 or tongues6 to be formed at the opposite end faces or on all end faces of thecomponents 1, 2 to produce components which are symmetrical withreference to their longitudinal plane and possibly also their transversemid-plane.

What is claimed is:
 1. An arrangement of panel shaped or strip shapedbuilding members made of wood, wood material or wood based materialcomprising: first and second components each having a top surface, abottom surface and at least one edge, with a groove defining an openingthrough the at least one edge of the first component and a tongueprojecting from the at least one edge of the second component forreceipt through the opening when the edges of the components are inabutment; the groove having first and second walls converging withrespect to the opening from the edge of the first component inwardtoward a groove bottom, with at least the second wall having an outerportion of a selected extent and an inner portion; a contact surfacedisposed proximate the opening and extending obliquely from the secondwall with respect to the top or bottom surface of the first component ina divergent direction with respect to the opening of the groove, thecontact surface having an extent less than and an angle steeper than theouter portion of the second wall, and the tongue having a first surfacefor abutting the first wall of the groove when inserted into the grooveand a second surface having at least an inner portion abutting andcomplementing the outer portion of the second wall and a shoulderabutting and complementing the contact surface to positively retain thetongue in the groove.
 2. An arrangement according to claim 1, whereinthe outer portion of the second wall converges at a steeper angle thanthe inner portion of the second wall.
 3. An arrangement according toclaim 1, wherein the edges of the first and second components have endsurfaces which diverge from one another when the edges are in abutmentand the tongue is seated within the groove.
 4. An arrangement accordingto claim 1, wherein both the first and second walls have an outerportion converging at a steeper angle than the inner portion.
 5. Anarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first wall has anadditional contact surface disposed proximate the opening of the grooveopposite the contact surface extending from the second wall.
 6. Anarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first surface of thetongue comprises an inner portion and a shoulder.
 7. An arrangementaccording to claim 1, wherein the first wall of the groove has aconverging portion disposed opposite the contact surface.
 8. Anarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the groove extends along thelength of the at least one side of the first component.
 9. Anarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tongue extends along thelength of the at least one side of the second component.
 10. Anarrangement according to claim 1, wherein said first and secondcomponents comprise at least one plastic laminated layer on the top orbottom surface and optionally comprise a flat bottom surface.
 11. Anarrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the walls ofthe groove is flexible, whereby the tongue is insertable into andremovable from the groove.
 12. An arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the extent of the outer portion of at least the second wall is 4to 8 times longer than the extent of the contact surface.
 13. Anarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the extent of the outerportion of at least the second wall is 5 to 7 times longer than theextent of the contact surface.
 14. An arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the angle between the outer portion and the contact surface ofat least the second wall and the angle between the inner portion and theshoulder of the second surface of the tongue is 100-140°.
 15. Anarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the outerportion and the contact surface of at least the second wall and theangle between the inner portion and the shoulder of the second surfaceof the tongue is 110-130°.
 16. An arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the groove is centered on the at least one side of the firstcomponent and the tongue is centered on the at least one side of thesecond component.
 17. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein thefirst component comprising on at least one side a groove comprises on aside opposite from said at least one side either a tongue or a grooveand wherein the second component comprising on at least one side of atongue comprises on a side opposite from said at least one side either atongue or a groove.
 18. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein theshortest distance between the top and bottom sides of the firstcomponent is the same as the shortest distance between the top andbottom sides of the second component.
 19. An arrangement according toclaim 1, wherein the shortest distance between the top and bottom sidesof the first component is different than the shortest distance betweenthe top and bottom sides of the second component.
 20. An arrangementaccording to claim 1, wherein the first component comprising on at leastone side a groove comprises on a side opposite from said at least oneside a groove and said first component is panel-shaped and the secondcomponent comprising on at least one side a tongue comprises on a sideopposite from said at least one side a tongue and said second componentis strip-shaped.
 21. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein thefirst and second walls of the groove have different lengths.
 22. Anarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the building members areflooring members.
 23. A component useful in an arrangement of claim 1,wherein said component is the first component.
 24. A component useful inan arrangement of claim 1, wherein said component is the secondcomponent.